Hand grenade found at Kosovo court amid political turmoil

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo's Constitutional Court said Wednesday that a hand grenade was found at its yard amid a tense political situation in the country.

Police exploded the grenade with a remote control "without human or material damage," said a statement that also urged law enforcement officials to find out who was behind the crime.

"This violent act aimed at frightening judges and other officials of the Constitutional Court is a direct attack against the constitutional order," said the statement.

Kosovo police in riot gear patrol in the main square, in Kosovo's capital Pristina on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered Wednesday to protest the arrest of a lawmaker who took part in violence inside parliament trying to force the government to renounce recent deals with Serbia and Montenegro. Scores of opposition supporters continue in evening hours the protest in front of the government headquarters in downtown Pristina, throwing stones and molotov cocktails at police and government buildings. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Also Wednesday, Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters who were protesting the arrest of a lawmaker who has participated in violence inside parliament aimed at trying to force the government to renounce recent deals.

Donika Kadaj-Bujupi was arrested Wednesday and arrest warrants were issued for three of her colleagues in the opposition group that has disrupted parliament over the past two months with tear gas and pepper spray, whistles and water bottles. Police also searched the houses of two other lawmakers who were not there.

The lawmakers want the government to withdraw from a deal with Serbia giving more powers to ethnic-Serb communities and from one with Montenegro on border demarcation.

Scores of opposition supporters gathered in front of the government headquarters in downtown Pristina, throwing stones and paint against the building. Police responded with tear gas.

Protesters remained in front of the government building until late evening and clashed with police, who used armored vehicles to disperse them.

Police said at least seven policemen and two citizens were injured and a considerable number of vehicles were burnt or damaged.

By late evening 22 "violent" protesters had been arrested, police said, adding that many public buildings and other properties were damaged.

The government harshly denounced the violence of a "bunch of extremists and bandits ... trying to destroy its institutions."

"The Kosovo government strongly denounces the extreme violence manifested today at the capital's streets," it said in a statement.

It also expressed anger about the injuring of innocent citizens, Kosovo police members and the material damage caused.

The opposition has said no more parliament sessions will be allowed unless the deals are renounced. The government accuses them of trying to come to power by force.

Last week the Constitutional Court suspended any action on the deal with Serbia until it has ruled on its constitutionality. But the opposition did not trust it and claimed it is too close to the government.

"The Constitutional Court remains unshaken in its mission of defending the constitutionality and the respect of the rights and freedom of each citizen," said the Court.

Kosovo in 2008 declared independence from Serbia, but that is not recognized by Belgrade. The two sides are holding EU-led talks to overcome their differences.

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Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania, contributed to this report

Kosovo police in riot gear take a break after dispersing supporters of the opposition in Kosovo's capital Pristina on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered Wednesday to protest the arrest of a lawmaker who took part in violence inside parliament trying to force the government to renounce recent deals with Serbia and Montenegro. Scores of opposition supporters continue in evening hours the protest in front of the government headquarters in downtown Pristina, throwing stones and molotov cocktails at police and government buildings. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

A supporter of the opposition kick back a gas canister at Kosovo police in Pristina, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered Wednesday to protest the arrest of a lawmaker who took part in violence inside parliament trying to force the government to renounce recent deals with Serbia and Montenegro. Scores of opposition supporters continue in evening hours the protest in front of the government headquarters in downtown Pristina, throwing stones and molotov cocktails at police and government buildings. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Supporter of the opposition throws back a tear gas canister at police forces in Kosovo capital Pristina on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered Wednesday to protest the arrest of a lawmaker who took part in violence inside parliament trying to force the government to renounce recent deals with Serbia and Montenegro. Scores of opposition supporters gathered in front of the government headquarters in downtown Pristina, throwing stones and paint against the building. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Molotov cocktail burns on top of an armoured police vehicle during clashes between Kosovo police and stone throwing supporters of the opposition in Kosovo capital Pristina on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered Wednesday to protest the arrest of a lawmaker who took part in violence inside parliament trying to force the government to renounce recent deals with Serbia and Montenegro. Scores of opposition supporters gathered in front of the government headquarters in downtown Pristina, throwing stones and paint against the building. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Supporter of the opposition are detained and made to rise their hand by Kosovo police forces in Kosovo capital Pristina on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered Wednesday to protest the arrest of a lawmaker who took part in violence inside parliament trying to force the government to renounce recent deals with Serbia and Montenegro. Scores of opposition supporters gathered in front of the government headquarters in downtown Pristina, throwing stones and paint against the building. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Supporter of the opposition is detained by police forces in riot gear in Kosovo capital Pristina, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, as scores of opposition supporters gathered in front of the government headquarters in downtown Pristina, throwing stones and paint against the building. Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered Wednesday to protest the arrest of a lawmaker who took part in violence inside parliament trying to force the government to renounce recent deals with Serbia and Montenegro.(AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Supporter of the opposition throws a molotov cocktail at police forces guarding the government building in Kosovo capital Pristina on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, as scores of opposition supporters gathered in front of the government headquarters in downtown Pristina, throwing stones and paint against the building. Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered Wednesday to protest the arrest of a lawmaker who took part in violence inside parliament trying to force the government to renounce recent deals with Serbia and Montenegro. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Supporter of the opposition throw stones at police forces in Kosovo capital Pristina on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, as scores of opposition supporters gathered in front of the government headquarters in downtown Pristina, throwing stones and paint against the building. Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered Wednesday to protest the arrest of a lawmaker who took part in violence inside parliament trying to force the government to renounce recent deals with Serbia and Montenegro. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Supporter of the opposition throws back a tear gas canister at police forces in Kosovo capital Pristina on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, as scores of opposition supporters gathered in front of the government headquarters in downtown Pristina, throwing stones and paint against the building. Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters gathered Wednesday to protest the arrest of a lawmaker who took part in violence inside parliament trying to force the government to renounce recent deals with Serbia and Montenegro. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)